TRANG: Artifacts believed to date back more than 300 years to the Ayutthaya Period have been uncovered in Muang district of this southern province.
Archaeologists are verifying the age of several pieces of broken pottery and glazed porcelain found buried in a rice field belonging to Jitwichai Nurerk, a villager in tambon Napala.
The site where the artifacts were discovered is located near an irrigation canal dug more than 40 years ago.
Mr Jitwichai said he first saw old pieces of pottery lying in his rice field more than 10 years ago.
He said he decided not to let anyone know about them because he did not want a hoard of people trampling over his field.
However, Wirachai Rungrueang, the village head, recently learned about the artifacts and, believing they could be of historical importance, brought the matter to the attention of the authorities, Mr Jitwichai said.
He insisted that he never laid a finger on the artifacts and had just left them where they were.
Prayoon Nusook, an official attached to the Cultural Ministry's Trang office, said the site of the discovery has now been cordoned off so archaeologists can move in and concentrate on examining the artifacts in more detail.
No one is allowed to move or dig them up during this examination, he added.
Plengmetha Khaonuna, an archaeologist attached to the 11th Regional Office of Fine Arts based in Songkhla, said the artifacts include pieces of earthenware dishes and bowls and glazed porcelain.
She said that an initial examination has found that the porcelain has blue floral patterns which were popular during the Ayutthaya Period around 300 to 400 years ago.
Experts will conduct further tests to determine their age and origin.